Effect of Kinesthetic Illusion Induced by Visual Stimulation on Hand Function in Patients with Chronic Stroke: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Author(s):

Vanu V Bharwani*, Ashwini Kale

Background: Upper extremity motor dysfunction is the major problem in stroke patients which leads to dependency during ADL and reduces their QOL. Rehabilitation of hand function is the major challenge seen in neuro rehabilitation settings. Kinesthetic Illusion Induced by Visual Stimulation (KINVIS) is an implicit motor imagery that provides kinesthetic and visual stimulus to the patients as they visualize their own body part moving in the video. This provides a visual illusion to the patient. Participants: 30 participants with chronic stroke of age 45 to 65 were included in the study. Methods: 30 participants with chronic stroke were allocated into two groups i.e. experimental group and control group. Experimental group underwent KINVIS along with conventional therapy for 4 weeks while control group underwent conventional physiotherapy alone for 4 weeks. Outcomes measures used in the study to assess the hand function were fugl meyer assessment for upper extremity, box and block test and modified ashworth scale. Analysis: Statistical analysis of data was done using SPSS 27.0 version software. Analysis was done using Kolmogorov Smirnov test, descriptive and inferential statistics using chi square test, student’s paired and unpaired t test. Results: The results of the study within group comparison showed significant improvement in both experimental group and control group for FMA and BBT after 4 weeks of intervention. (p-value 0.001) Between group analyses for FMA and BBT was significant with experimental group showing more statistically significant improvement as compared to the conventional group. The KINVIS group demonstrated notable improvement in wrist flexor muscle tone according to the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS). Conclusion: KINVIS is found to be effective to improve hand function in patients with chronic stroke.